Rain adds to woes of flood-hit in Jajpur, Kendrapada

KENDRAPADA: The plight of the flood-affected was compounded by fresh rain triggered by low pressure even as water receded at several places in Jajpur and Kendrapada districts on Saturday.
Hundred of villagers have taken shelter in makeshift tents and camps as floodwaters submerged several places in these districts. People in Lalbag, Kasapa Talapada, Patisahi, Satiatikiri, Pitaghat, Moitipur, Nakhei and Gotapur in Jajpur and Domunda, Narendrapur, Kandiahata, Pradhanapada, Pegarapada, Agapada, Sihapada, Dasipur, Manikapatana, Rambila, Santhapada and Belapala in Kendrapada district are still cut off by floodwaters.
The swelling Bramahani, Baitarani, Kani and Budha and Kharosrota rivers have spread panic among people.
The flood-hit villagers complained of slow pace of relief operations. "My six-room thatched house collapsed on Wednesday. I along with my family are living in a makeshift camp. We need drinking water and polythene sheets," said Nihar Ranjan Jena of Gotapur village.
Incessant rain on Friday night forced people, who had taken shelter on river embankments, to look for safer places.
"The rain is hampering relief work. The situation will worsen if it continues to rain with the same intensity," said Ganyaranjan Das, a Rajkanika-based campaigner.
The floodwaters entered 219 villages, affecting 1.7 lakh people, after the Baitarani breached at two places on Wednesday. "The breaches were repaired on Friday. The district is on high alert after rain lashed the district for two days," said collector (Jajpur) S K Mallick.